Sometimes he still expected Bane to be skulking outside, waiting to walk home with him and harass him along the way. He felt a fresh wave of anger, toward Lythia and Désirée, toward Half-Light.… But these thoughts would have to wait, because tonight, there was something else important to be done. After a quick stop along the way, Oliver arrived at Dean’s house just before four. He found two people on the porch. One was Emalie’s great-aunt Kathleen, whom Oliver had recently met. She was a middle-aged, heavyset woman, an Orani like Emalie, and helped her with learning enchantments and skills. “Hi, Oliver,” she said as he climbed the steps. “Hey.” Beside her was a man with dark straight hair in a youthful mop on his head, his hands in the pockets of his black leather jacket. His eyes had a familiar shape and darkness. “Mr. Watkins?” Oliver asked. Emalie’s father, Cole, looked down at Oliver apprehensively. “So you’re Oliver.” Oliver nodded. While he’d been in Emalie’s house many times, this was the first time that they’d ever met.
